With 15 office locations and 70% of associates participating, our first Annual Day of Service started a new tradition with great success that we expect to build.

Held April 11, 2014, the Annual Day of Service coincided with National Volunteer Week and served various organizations in the communities where we do business, including Global Soap and Books for Africa in Atlanta, Village of West Jefferson in Columbus, Ohio, Gleaners Food Bank in Indianapolis, The Pantry of Broward in South Florida, and Habitat for Humanity in Baltimore.

Building upon our volunteer efforts that have for many years taken place in individual office locations, the company-wide event brings team building and community service together on a bigger scale-and with great results.

"Here in Indianapolis, the turnout was staggering," said Pat Walsh, Director, Design and Construction for Duke Realty and the 2013-14 Chair of the Diversity Council, which implemented the Annual Day of Service. "We had around 200 associates volunteering at Gleaners Food Bank in two half-day shifts. We were able to get quite a lot of work done."

Feedback from Duke Realty associates and from the organizations they served was enthusiastic.

"We are incredibly excited to have Duke Realty as a partner in revitalizing the Brooklyn neighborhood," said Habitat Chesapeake CEO Mike Posko. "We rely on partners like our friends at Duke Realty to help us build, renovate and repair Habitat Chesapeake homes in our neighborhoods. Without the financial and volunteer support from our partners, our goal of advancing affordable housing opportunities in Central Maryland would be impossible."

The effort went beyond volunteering to include donations of supplies, food, and other materials by many of our offices, and cash donations totaling $35,300.

"Duke Realty associates are firmly committed to helping strengthen the communities where we live and work and, each year, donate thousands of hours of their time to philanthropic organizations across the country," said Denny D. Oklak, Chairman and CEO of Duke Realty. "This year, we wanted to strengthen our efforts."

Designating a company-wide Day of Service built momentum for the already strong service efforts of our respective offices and gave those teams a chance to work together in ways that go beyond their typical workday routines, taking them out of the office and into their communities.

"This is the beginning of a great tradition for us," Walsh said. "By all accounts, it was a very successful day."

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